Let’s be honest: lockdown sucks!  But it does mean there’s more time for reading.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will review 10 books which all Royal History Geeks should add to their reading list.

Ten years ago, most people had never heard the name Margaret Beaufort.  The mother of the Tudors may have been significant to history, but she was lacking a popular profile.

How times have changed.

Thanks to an explosion of interest in the latter half of the 15^th century, fuelled in part by a wealth of historical fiction, Margaret has shot to fame.  Or perhaps ‘infamy’.

For whatever reason, script writers and novelists have chosen to portray Margaret as a sinister character.  And for many people, fiction has been taken as fact.

It’s time for the truth to be told.  And in ‘the Uncrowned Queen’ that’s exactly what Nicola Tallis sets out to do.

The beginning of the book details the history of the Beaufort family and sets Margaret’s birth in the context of her royal descent from Edward III.  So often the Beauforts are simply a footnote in the Tudor origin story.  Readers will appreciate the attention that Tallis gives them.

As Margaret is born, readers quickly get a sense of how the tumultuous turns of fortune’s wheel will dominate her life.  By the time she is a year old, her father is dead.  She is one of England’s richest heiresses.  But she is also without a protector.

By the age of 13, Margaret is both a widow and a teenage mother.  She marries twice more before playing her famous role in the downfall of Richard III.  Tallis depicts Margaret as a woman who was a natural risk taker but became more cautious following a miscalculation in 1469.  But as Richard’s regime crumbled, she sensed her opportunity.  Once again, she through caution to the wind. 

Upon her son’s ascension, Margaret becomes known as ‘My lady, the King’s mother.’  And from this point on, records become plentiful.  Tallis uses the vast sources to great effect, painting a glorious picture of Margaret’s later year.  Yes, she was pious and invested in learning.  But as her household accounts reveal, she also liked the finer things in life. 

Some have criticised the book for being the ‘account that Margaret would have wanted written.’  One that emphasises Margaret’s qualities but fails to explore some of her less pleasant characteristics.  But all this really means is that the author has spent little time addressing the accusations that popular fiction has thrown Margaret’s way.  And why should she?  They aren’t based on historical fact.

The hardback book is beautifully produced.  Margaret would have been proud to find her portrait positioned above the Beaufort portcullis and inbetween two mythical Yales from the Beaufort crest.  The typeface throughout the biography is both pretty and easy to read.  The book contains two sections of stunning imagery.

To many Royal History Geeks, the outline of Margaret’s life will be well known.  What I particularly like about this book is the colour it adds to the picture.  Descriptions of the houses and castles in which Margaret dwelled helps us picture her in situ.  Analysis of her household accounts give a glimpse into her character.

Misunderstandings around the character of Margaret Beaufort are set to continue.  Such is the power of fiction and social media certainly doesn’t help.  But for people really wanting to delve into the history of the woman who gave birth to the Tudor dynasty, it’s reassuring to know that ‘the truth is out there.’  Much of it can be found in this excellent biography.

Uncrowned Queen, the Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch, is available from Amazon.

However, please consider supporting your local book seller.  If you are based in the UK, search for your local book seller at the Book Seller Associations website.